Six family Christmases in four days. I remind myself to forget the exhaustion (xmas eve ER visit didn't help), forget the tornado of wrapping paper debris, forget the enhanced gut due to endless fruitcake cookies, and take note of all the family members we celebrated this holiday with, including both my paternal and maternal grandmothers. 

Much to celebrate with our family trip to New Orleans, including health and happiness, despite a Red Wolves' loss!

I think the last time I captured both of these guys in a tie it was my wedding. Don't they clean up well!

Annual Candy Making Day!

Photo credit to Ma, but this might explain my #1 and # 2's personalities without words quite well. Love them.

Bedtime, by Caroline S. Nick.

Proud of our little tennis player who aced her first season of Junior Team Tennis!

Halloween Cowgirls

I came home today to find these two in the kitchen cooking up a Mississippi Mud Cake. 

Lots of taste testing ensured it was delicious!

Flashback to her first tennis 'lesson' with her dad in July of 2011:

Four years later brings us to today where she played her second team tennis match, and her dad is the parent coach. I'm proud of both of them!  After the match she came home and wanted to go practice to 'get better' so they did! 

This is what my #1 looks like as she is rolling her eyes after reading her diary entry to me. 

Diary entry: 

She wrote: I have to do two packs of laundry. Welcome to Mom Land.

Note that she did write her day was "unforgettable". When I asked why...she said because of her first tennis match! (She won!)

On this rare morning I was at home getting ready for the day while checking email, eating breakfast, and overseeing lipstick application of my #2 all within the small space of the bathroom, it crossed my mind that the mornings my mom got ready for the day, and her mom got ready for the day, and her mom got ready for the day had to have been very different. But the desire to be just like mom was probably the same.

Chris and I unpacked wedding gifts that had been in the box for 13 years (champagne glasses from Tiffanys) in order to properly celebrate Guy and Liz's engagement! We are excited!

Us.

Not sure which one of these two is enjoying their homemade ice cream more! 

Cate & Betsy. Best Dressed Tennis Players. Age 4 Bracket.

Hello, Second Grade!

Our last 'summer' weekend.

History Guru Dad took the girls to Toltec Mounds (followed by a stop at Charlotte's in Keo) on Friday!

Saturday we all saw the Dinosaur exhibit at Clinton Library!

And walked part of the river park!

And Caroline and NeNe hit the new Tesla exhibit at the Museum of Discovery!

Today Cate moved from her trike to a bike with training wheels and rode all the way around Lakewood Lake! 

Our last weekend before school starts again was a success! Bring on 2nd grade  and PreK!

Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Hiking at Petit Jean

A few days late (ok, a week late) but since the blog serves as a virtual baby book then it's better late than never to write a few things in honor of our Cater Bug's fourth birthday. This was the first year she had a birthday party and when we asked her where she wanted to have it she didn't hesitate on specifying the "bowling alley in the bowling room". Of course she was too busy opening presents to bowl. 

What four year old Cate is like:

- Very dependent on her big sister

- She likes to speak loudly and with force

- Patience isn't her thing, but persistence is

- She is very loving and cuddly

- She laughs a lot, very easily

- She loves to wear her cowgirl boots 

- She could eat a hamburger 3 meals a day, 7 days a week (and she will ask her dad to make it)

- She is a great sleeper, and loves to have all her 'lovies' in the bed, but she also yells and talks in her sleep! 

Cate is a true joy! What a fun four years it has been with her! 

P.S. The blog got a make-over! 

Cater Bug is four! Happy birthday to our sweet girl!

What a great week at the beach!

At the beach this week!

The picture is small because Chris took while hiding behind the blinds in the kitchen, but if you look closely you'll see bossy big sis (in full princess attire) reading (like a teacher) to her attentive little sis (who is in her Sunday best).

Cate's first tennis lesson. She said it was "so fun"! The veteran sister coached from courtside. 

This girl.

A dash of sisterly love in the chocolate cookies.

Some days are more silly than others!

Playoff time!

Most Friday afternoons when I come home early I am welcomed by at least six little girls who are playing in our yard. Last Friday I didn't realize they had made a train behind me to do each other's hair in this order: Macey, Cate, Abigail, Hannah, Joanna, and me, who can't believe I'm old enough to be responsible for one of those sweet girls. We are only missing the boss of the group, Caroline, who was having a blast on her first camping trip with Poppa Willie!  

My co-workers love Chef Chris especially when he sends breakfast!

Cupcakes on the porch.

This is how we do spring. And it couldn't be better!